In the Dark Room, with nothing to serve as a reference, even the concept of time became blurred.
"You want Kurogane to personally admit that 'I was wrong.' That's the purpose of that inquiry, isn't it?" Ning Yin sat in the Chairman's office, speaking with Hei Nai.
"After all, no country can revoke someone's qualifications as a Magic Knight. They are directly under the Alliance's jurisdiction."
Hei Nai stubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray and spoke unhurriedly.
"Exactly. That's why that old fox Akaza resorted to such lowly tactics."
But Ning Yin was not in a hurry this time either. She could not interfere personally, but that did not mean there was no one else. "This time, it'll depend on Xiao Bai. If it's him, there definitely won't be a problem."
"White Night..."
It was not as if Hei Nai had not witnessed the previous training. White Night had already completely surpassed the standards expected of student knights!
"True. With his strength, there are already many things he can do. But we teachers can't just stand around and watch."
"Xiao Bai told me something, you know~"
In a flash, Ning Yin appeared atop Hei Nai's desk. Her petite body looked perfectly natural sitting there as she leaned toward Hei Nai. "If Xiao Hei wants to help, then you can..."
As for White Night? He was still waiting. Ikki had only just gone in when something happened over there. Even an idiot could tell there was something wrong inside! This was not something that could be rushed.
Ikki was questioned as usual. Although they did not use torture, it still took a toll on him mentally.
That day, Ikki was still wearing handcuffs as he was taken to a venue—he was still a student knight, and his Sword Martial Festival qualification could not be revoked, so he had to be brought there to compete.
Of course, it was a specially enclosed venue, and even communication between the two sides was restricted.
Unsurprisingly, Ikki won, then was sent back into the Dark Room. Several days passed like this. Until...
Click~
The building's electrical facilities malfunctioned. In the Dark Room, the surveillance camera with its blinking red light died, and the only source of light went out as well.
A streak of pure white Yang Lightning flashed, quickly gathering into White Night's figure in the corner of the room. Then the room dimmed once more...
"You should be doing alright, Ikki~"
White Night leaned against the wall with his arms folded. "Or are you disappointed that I came? I imagine that right now, the person you'd rather see is Stella, isn't it?"
"You're still the same as ever."
"Of course. I've always been like this."
White Night merely smiled. "By the way, don't you think those idiots are sticking their noses where they don't belong? The man and woman both consented—what business is it of theirs?"
"They're calling it an impure relationship. What a joke! Since when was dating illegal?"
Even without the slightest bit of light, White Night's gaze from the darkness remained sharp. "If they want to accuse someone, they'll always find an excuse. Don't tell me you got fooled by them?"
"Cough, cough. Of course not." As he spoke with White Night, Ikki gradually regained his spirits.
"..."
Silence fell. When White Night spoke again, his tone was no longer as frivolous as before. Instead, it carried a hint of authority—the temperament he had gradually cultivated in Qin!
"Ikki, there's something I need to tell you."
"...What is it?"
He unconsciously sat up straighter. His instincts told Ikki that what White Night was about to say would surely far exceed his imagination!
"What happened these past few days..."
White Night paused slightly at that point. "Actually, I already knew about it."
Seeing that Ikki did not interrupt, White Night gave a slight nod and continued. "My eyes are rather special. To some extent, I can see the future..."
"Though it's only one possibility." Of course, that part was a complete lie.
Now that he had introduced that concept, it was time. "Do you remember what I told you before? A person grows three times:
The third is when, after understanding that some matters are not simply about right and wrong, they still firmly do what they believe in and take responsibility for it."
"I saw the relationship between you and your father."
White Night looked at Ikki from the darkness, his expression complicated. Though he did not advocate suffering, he had to admit... suffering could make people grow.
"You always thought you were too weak, which was why you could not gain your father Kurogane Gen's recognition. But actually, that is wrong."
◆Kurogane Gen
Compared to familial affection, he cared more about maintaining "order"—in other words, the current "hierarchical system."
"You are indeed his son, but your Magic Power is simply too poor. In his eyes, you were someone without talent from the start, Ikki."
"But you forcibly relied on that poor Magic Power to strive toward becoming a higher-ranked Magic Knight, even defeating them in battle!"
White Night paused, giving Ikki time to think. Only after a while did he ask, "So what do you think you should look like in his eyes?"
"..."
After a long silence, Ikki understood. He was not stupid, so he naturally grasped the meaning behind it.
"A challenger to the system..."
Silence was meaningless, so White Night revealed the answer. "If someone like you succeeds, then you'll become an example, become the hope of people like that."
"You know as well that there are far too many people with poor Magic Power. It could even shake the structure of society."
Someone who should have been "unable to do anything" had, at some point, truly succeeded!
Once that fact emerged, everyone with the ability would begin trying. After all...
—No one was willing to remain ordinary!
This was a time of peace. If such a thing truly happened, it would inevitably lead to bloodshed.
Yet even so, people would still rush forward one after another, seeking that illusory success spoken of in rumors.
"It's like a lottery."
White Night switched to a simpler explanation. "If everyone thinks there are no treasures in the prize pool, then no one will buy a ticket."
"But once someone draws out a treasure, countless people will immediately follow and try."
"They'll only remember that someone succeeded, instead of reflecting on... why that person was able to do it."
Although Kurogane Gen was wrong in how he handled Ikki's situation, was there truly no logic behind the beliefs he upheld?
"This is the cruel truth."
At some point, White Night had already walked to Ikki's side. He slowly crouched down with one hand resting on Ikki's shoulder. "Your father never had any expectations for you."
"In fact, it was the complete opposite. He hoped you would remain ordinary. You were always his son, but nothing more. So we return to that question..."
—"What is it that you truly desire?"
Go Become a Demon!
It was something an old man had once told him amid endless wind and snow, words he had never been able to forget:
"Are you unwilling to accept being the 'weakest,' kid?"
"Then don't forget this regret you feel now."
"Because it is proof that you still haven't given up on your 'self.'"
That was right. At first, he had wanted to prove it to that old man... prove that his judgment had not been wrong!
But Kurogane Ryoma... was already dead.
"Ikki, do you remember Stella? Before leaving, she asked me to pass along a message to you."
Before Ikki's will could sink any further, White Night gave him a timely shot of encouragement. "Do you remember that promise? She'll be waiting for you in the finals."
Countless figures flashed through Ikki's mind: Stella, Shizuku, Arisugawa, White Night, Bronya... and even Shinguji Kuroko and Nenene Saikyō.
"...I understand."
His previously dispirited hand suddenly burst with strength and tightly grabbed White Night's shoulder. Ikki slowly raised his head, and light bloomed in his dark eyes. "Thank you for this, White Night."
"Looks like you've come back to life~"
White Night smiled casually and gave Ikki's shoulder a heavy pat. "So what is this? The power of love?"
"Stop teasing me."
Ikki waved his hand, unwilling to entertain that. This time, he had truly seen himself clearly. His will had been tempered, becoming even more dazzling.
"Heh, alright, alright. Now for the serious business. Do you still want your father's recognition?"
"Alright, White Night, I've already figured it—"
Ikki seemed to have let it go, and his tone was no longer so stubborn. But then he gradually realized something. "White Night, what did you mean by that?"
"You tell me~"
"Hey!"
"Alright, alright. It means exactly what you think it means."
Patting Ikki's shoulder, White Night stopped teasing him. "Do you think Kurogane Gen maintains order purely out of responsibility? No one can be that selfless."
"Of course, except for true saints. So, Ikki, what do you think he gains from it?"
"...Power and status?" Ikki asked.
"Perhaps not just for himself, but for the entire Kurogane family. Otherwise, what else would make him live such an exhausting life?"
White Night released Ikki's shoulder and sat beside him against the wall. "To be honest, if you were willing to let go of all this and return to inherit the family estate..."
"I dare say you would live very well! With the Kurogane family's influence, they could certainly pave the road ahead for you. All you would need to do is give up your identity as a Blade Dancer."
"But..." Ikki said.
"But you don't want to, right?"
White Night picked up where Ikki left off. "Maybe at the beginning, you only started for some particular reason. But as time passed, it became an indispensable part of your life."
Become stronger!
Ikki silently clenched his fists. Every day of training, every swing of his sword... had completely become part of his life. He could no longer give it up!
"If there had been no Stella, perhaps you would have been lost. But once you truly saw your own heart, you would still have continued moving in this direction, wouldn't you?"
"..."
Silence followed.
"Looks like that hit close to home, Ikki."
As he spoke, White Night rose from beside him. "How about this? I'll give you time to slowly process it, and we can continue talking tomorrow?"
"White Night!"
"Alright, alright, I'm not joking."
White Night waved his hand, then was pulled back down by Ikki. "I can tell you very clearly: when it comes to becoming stronger, you absolutely cannot stop moving forward!"
"Why... Will there be danger in the future?"
"Who knows~ Like I said before, what I observe isn't entirely accurate."
From the darkness, White Night raised another point. "And besides... haven't you already seen it before?"
"The Puppet Master's attack. Did you manage to protect Stella? Having power and not using it are completely different from having no power at all."
"So, young man, work hard and become stronger!" He suddenly became unreliable again.
But Ikki had more or less gotten used to it... If White Night were too serious, it would instead clash with the image Ikki had of him. "Alright, White Night, after all this time... it seems you still haven't gotten to the point?"
"Huh? Haven't I? What did I leave out? Everything I mentioned just now was important."
"The part about my father."
Before you continue